Optimal Configuration For Linux Software RAID (Score 1)

I used to worry about how to recover. I've had to do recovery a number of times, you can use a LiveCD, you can get an external USB HD. But the best configuration I've found so far is to get a Compact Flash to IDE converter, install it as /dev/hda and put /boot and grub on the CF card.

Then I install the OS on a RAID1 set and the data I care about on a RAID5. One system I have has dual SCSI 2xRAID1 for the system partitions and 3xRAID5 IDE drives.

The CF is /dev/hda and is mounted read-only. If I need to upgrade the kernel I remount it RW and then do what I need and remount back to RO.

This is the most reliable configuration I've come up with so far. CF has no moving parts so it's fairly reliable. Writes are limited to about 1 million. Reads are unlimited.

Compact Flash Readers
http://store.yahoo.com/ituner/cfdisk1c.html
http://store.yahoo.com/ituner/cfdisk5d.html

Some boards don't like the 5D type Converter, since they detect using the cable type (40 or 80). In which case type 1C works just fine.